New bike racks to be open by end of summer

Montgomery County has signed a contract to bring 400 Capital Bikeshare bikes and 50 stations to the area.

About 200 bikes will be stationed at 20 stations in the Rockville and Shady Grove area, in addition to about 30 stations further downcounty.

Sandra Brecher, chief of commuter services in the county’s Department of Transportation, said downcounty Bikeshare racks will be placed along the two arms of the Red Line between the Washington, D.C., line and the Beltway.

Metro stations such as Takoma Park, Friendship Heights and Bethesda will have their own Bikeshare racks.

The county signed the contract with Alta Bicycle Share, which currently operates the Capital Bikeshare program through Washington, D.C., and northern Virginia.

There is “agreement across the board” that Metro stations will have Bikeshare racks, Brecher said, but other rack locations still are being determined.

Montgomery County’s version of Capital Bikeshare will be “seamless” with Washington, D.C., and Virginia’s Capital Bikeshare programs, Brecher said.

“That’s been our big objective,” she said.

Montgomery County residents who are already members of the program can continue their membership when using bikes at Montgomery County stations.

Brecher said Capital Bikeshare racks and bikes in Montgomery County will be available to the public by the end of the summer.

Riders and drivers of Montgomery County: stuck in congestion on your morning commute? Seeing major delays on the Red Line? Send me a note at bumper@gazette.net.